Method And System For Managing And Operating A Plurality Of Farm Houses

ABSTRACT

A system for monitoring, managing, and/or operating a plurality of farm houses on a plurality of farms. The system includes a controller and/or a monitor box in the farm house and a computer in communication with the controller for controlling and adjusting various parameters of the farm house or with the monitor box for monitoring the farm house. The system also includes a computer at an integrator&#39;s office that is operable to monitor and/or control various parameters from the farm house remotely. These parameters enable the integrator to coordinate operations with processing plants, feed mills, field service and hatcheries. It also enables the integrator to prepare various data reports for use by the integrator or others.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/914,682 filed on Aug. 9, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/674,282 filed on Sep. 29, 2003,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/414,855,filed on Sep. 30, 2002. The disclosure of the above applications areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to managing and operating a plurality offarm houses; more particularly, the invention relates to an integratorfor remotely managing and operating a plurality of farm houses on aplurality of farms.

BACKGROUND

Farmers have typically managed and operated farm houses, such as chickenhouses and hog houses, by performing the day to day farm tasks manually.These tasks primarily included providing adequate feed and water to thehoused animals or livestock. Over time, farmers have determined thatcontrolling certain parameters could lead to higher yields and qualityin the livestock. For example, temperature, humidity, ventilation, feedcycles and lighting all contribute to successful livestock and improvedyields. Moreover, through the selective breading process, certaindesired characteristics like meat yield have been modified. However,some selective breading may result in an animal that may be stressedvery easily based upon changes in the surrounding environment. Thesetypes of animals require very specific conditions in order to thrive.Maintaining these specific conditions requires a significant amount ofoversight and time to ensure the proper environment is maintained.

Control systems for farm houses initially started with simple analogcontrols, such as thermostats to control temperature in the farm house.Digital controllers soon followed and have generally replaced manual oranalog controls in farm houses. By way of example and not limitation,CTB, Inc., of Milford, Ind. offers a Chore-Tronics(®) controller that iscapable of allowing the farmer to monitor and control severalparameters. These parameters are generally controlled automatically, viavarious sensors and actuators positioned throughout the farm house. Theparameters controlled in a farm house, such as a poultry or hog housegenerally include, temperature, humidity, water, ventilation, timers forfeeder and waterers, and timers for lights.

The farmer may typically adjust the farm house controller either on-siteor through a processor, such as a personal computer (PC), that is incommunication with the farm house controller. The PC may be located atthe farmer's office on the farm or at a site remote from the farm.Integrators that provide the animals, feed and support, as well asharvest the mature animals, however, generally do not have access to anyinformation from the farm houses. This can result in the integratorsreceiving different quality product from different farms, which isundesirable. For example, providing consistent weight for chicken breastmeat or other desired meats is of critical importance to the integratorand its customers. Because of this, the integrator needs to properlyschedule harvesting of the livestock to ensure the desired weight of theanimal is reached when the animal is harvested. Also, feed delivery andensuring that there is enough feed at each farm is also of criticalimportance to the integrator. If there is insufficient feed available,the animals may be stressed. If too much feed is delivered to the farm,a specialized truck may be required to pick up the excess feed at thefarm adding additional cost to the integrator.

There is, therefore, a need by the integrators to monitor and possiblycontrol the various farm houses it contracts with to ensure highquality, consistent and low cost yields.

SUMMARY

A system may be provided to monitor various conditions within acompound, such as a farm house. The system may include a central portionthat is able to receive signals from one or more sensors that may sensea condition within the compound such as temperature, humidity, windspeed, or other appropriate conditions. The system may process thesignals to produce a data set that may be transmitted to a user. Theuser may be able to analyze the data and/or control the compound based,at least in part, upon the data transmitted form the system.

According to various embodiments a system to receive signals regarding astate of a sensor may includes a sensor operable to sense a state andproduce a signal relative to the state. A monitoring system may beprovided to receive the signal regarding the state of the sensor. Atransmission system may transmit the received signal to a user.

According to various embodiments an apparatus for monitoring a sensor isdisclosed. The apparatus may include an user input mechanism operable toallow a first user to input an instruction. A data input mechanism mayreceive a signal from a source and a processor may process at least oneof the instruction or the signal. Also a transmission portion maytransmit a data to a second user.

According to various embodiments a farm house monitoring system mayinclude a sensor operable to sense a condition of a farm house andproduce a signal based upon a state of the condition. An input portionmay receive the signal from the sensor and a processor may process thesignal from the sensor. An output portion may output the signalprocessed by the processor and a transmitter may transmit the processedsignal to a user.

According to various embodiments a method of monitoring data regardingconditions relative to a farm house is disclosed. The method ofmonitoring may include sensing a condition regarding the farm house witha sensor and monitoring the sensed condition of the farm house. Thesensed condition may be transmitted and a determination of operation ofthe farm house may be based upon the transmission.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a system for managing andoperating a plurality of farm houses on a plurality of farms accordingto one of the various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a poultry or chicken house illustratingthe various systems that may be controlled and monitored within thepoultry house;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate various embodiments of a communications interfacebetween a farm house controller and a computer;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the communications atan integrators office, based upon data delivered from at least one farm;

FIG. 5 is a flow-logic diagram illustrating the method for managing andoperating the plurality of farm houses according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a monitor box according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 7A is an elevation view of a monitor system according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 7B is a diagrammatic view of the monitor system according tovarious embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a connection within the monitor system,according to various embodiments; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method of use of the monitor systemaccording to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

The following description of various embodiments concerning a method andsystem for managing and operating a plurality of farm houses on aplurality of farms are merely exemplary in nature and are not intendedto limit the invention, its application, or uses. It will be appreciatedby those skilled in the art that the present invention is clearly notlimited to a specific type of farm, but may be applied to any type offarm application, including for example, hogs, cattle, turkeys, andfish. Therefore, although reference may be made to a chicken house andpoultry farm, simply for clarity, the present description and appendedclaims will be understood to not be so limited.

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 10 for managing and operating a pluralityof farm houses 12 located on one or more farms 14 is shown. The farmhouse 12 may be any type of farm house 12 housing any type of farmanimal, such as chickens, turkeys, cattle, hogs, etc. For exemplarypurposes only, the present invention will discuss managing and operatinga poultry or chicken house 12. While FIG. 1 illustrates a single farmhouse 12 and a single farm 14, it will be understood that a plurality offarm houses 12 may be maintained on a single farm 14 or on multiplefarms 14.

The system 10 for managing and operating the farm house 12 may includeboth a farm control and data system 16 that is typically located on thefarm 14 and an integrator control and data system 18 that is typicallyoperated by an integrator 20, which may be from a particular location ormobile, further discussed herein. Each farm house 12 within the system10 may include at least one farm house controller 22 that is used tocontrol various parameters within the farm house 12. By way of exampleand not limitation, the farm house controller may be the Chore-Tronics(controller that is offered by CTB, Inc. of Milford, Ind. Should anothertype of farm house controller be utilized, a monitor box 24 may be usedin parallel with the controller 22 to monitor the controller 22 andprovide the necessary information for data retrieval and control of theintegrator 20. Thus, as described herein, the integrator 20 may receivedata from the controller 22 or the monitor box 24, and may also controlthe farm house with the controller 22, if the system 10 is so designed.

In addition, with further detail to the controller 22 and/or the monitorbox 24, either or both may include a memory storage system. The memorystorage system may be any appropriate memory storage system, such asrandom access memory, flash memory, a hard drive, or other generallyknown memory storage device. Therefore, the information monitored orcontrolled may be stored by the memory device and may be downloaded tothe integrator 20 or the integrator control and data system 18 or thefarmer control and data system 16.

The download of data may occur at any appropriate time or anyappropriate rate. For example, the systems may be automated to downloaddata at a selected rate, such as every hour, once a day, once a month,or substantially continuously (i.e., real-time). Alternatively, the datamay be downloaded at a selected time due to a selected instruction.Therefore, the integrator control and data system 18 may send aninstruction to the monitor box 24 and/or the controller 22 to receive adata dump from the memory system.

In addition, as discussed above and further herein, the controller 22may be able to sense or monitor data from each of the plurality ofsystems discussed herein as may the monitor box 24. If only one of thecontroller 22 and the monitor box 24 are provided in the farm house 12,only one may monitor the condition of the farm house 12. Nevertheless,if the controller 22 is provided, the controller 22 may both monitor andcontrol the systems in the farm house 12. If the monitor box 24 isprovided, the monitor box 24 may receive the information from thecontroller 22, may receive inputs from the sensors, or the systemspositioned in the farm house 12. It will be understood that the monitorbox 24 may only receive data from a selected source, such as a sensorand not form the controller 22. Moreover, both the controller 22 and themonitor box 24 may be provided together or alone in the farmhouse 12.Therefore, the integrator control data system 18 may communicate witheither or both of the controller 22 and the monitor box 24 to receivethe selected data.

With further reference to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the farmhouse 12 may house any appropriate or selected livestock, such aschickens and hogs. In addition, the farm house generally includes atleast one controller 22 and/or one monitor box 24. For clarity of thefollowing discussion, the controls included in the controller 22 areable to control various parameters of the farm house 12, as discussedfurther herein. The controller 22 may be owned by the integrator 20 as apart of the integrator control and data system 18 or may be owned by thefarmer and rented and used by the integrator 20 in the integratorcontrol and data system 18. Similarly, the monitor box 24 may be ownedand operated by the integrator 20 for the integrator control and datasystem 18 and simply be positioned in the farm house 12. Alternatively,the farm house 12 may only include the monitor box 24 which is thenmonitored and data sent to the integrator control and data system 18.Therefore, although the controller 22 and/or the monitor box 24 may bepresent within the farm house 12, it will be understood that thecontroller 22 and the monitor box 24 are not necessarily owned by thefarmer or the grower and may be owned by the integrator 20.

An exemplary farm house is a poultry house 25, as shown in FIG. 2, thefarm house controller 22 is able to monitor and control many parameters.The various systems that can be monitored and controlled by the farmhouse controller 22 include a ventilation system that is used to controlthe ventilation, in the poultry house 12. The ventilation systemtypically includes fans 26 that can be turned off and on, fan shutters28 that may be used to open and close that allow for the pressuredifferentiation to allow the fans 26 to move air and inlet doors 30 tocontrol the amount of fresh air intake into the farm house 12. Theventilation system, including the various components, may affect controlparameters such as temperature, air quality, such as ammonia and CO₂concentration, within the farm house 12, oxygen levels, and others.

Although temperature may be indirectly controlled, via the ventilationsystem, it may also be directly controlled by an evaporative coolingsystem 32 and brooders 33. The evaporative cooling system 32 can notonly adjust the temperature parameter but also a humidity levelparameter within the farm house 12 by drawing air through a wetted pad.Should heating be required within the poultry house 12, the controllablebrooders 33 may be utilized in combination with the evaporation coolingsystem 32. Therefore, control parameters temperature, humidity, and thelike may also be controlled in the farm house by the evaporative coolingsystem 32 and brooders 33.

The control parameters for feeding and watering of the chickens may becontrolled by way of automated feeders 34 that are supplied by a feedbin 36 and a fill system 38. For example, the fill system 38 may includea flow meter 39 that is able to substantially precisely, within selectedtolerances, measure the amounts of feed provided to the farm house 12that is consumed by the livestock contained therein. For example, a flopscale or flow meter, generally known in the art, may be used as part ofthe fill system 38 to precisely determine the amount of feed provided tothe feeders 34. Water is delivered by an automated poultry drinkersystem 40.

Automated breeder nest systems 42 may also be monitored and controlledby the farm house controller 22. The breeder nests 42 may assist incontrolling the number of livestock produced in the farm house 12.

The monitor box 24 and/or the control box 22 may also be used to monitorthe weight of the livestock, such as with a weight meter 43. The weightmeter 43 may be any appropriate meter, such as one that measures theforce produced on a roosting rod 43 a of a chicken roost. Therefore, theweight of the livestock may be monitored and other control parametersmay be altered depending upon the monitored weight parameter. Also theweight parameter may be a result parameter, as discussed herein.

It should further be noted that other controls may also be performed bythe farm house controller 22 and the above systems are merely exemplarysystems and parameters that may be controlled. For example, monitoringlivestock weight, air quality, such as CO₂ and nitrogen concentration,in and around the farm house 12, waste from the farm house 12, animalconditions, etc. As a further example, an animal scale or animal weightmonitor may also be controlled by the controller 22 or monitored by themonitor box 24. Therefore, a weight combination of all the livestock orof each of the individuals within the livestock population may bemonitored through the controller 22 or the monitor box 24.

As discussed herein, the monitor box 24 may also be included within thefarm house 12, either alone or in addition to the controller 22. Themonitor box 24 may be connected to the controller 22 or any appropriateinformation source, so that information monitored within the farm house12 may be used to determine selected control parameters by thecontroller 22. Alternatively, the controller 22 may include software,hardware, or combinations thereof to both monitor and control thevarious parameters of the farm house 12 and the monitor box 24 providesan interconnection between the controller 22 and a non-related system,such as the integrator data and control system 18. The controller 22 mayalso incorporate the features of the monitor box 24 directly into thecontroller 22, thereby eliminating the need for a separate monitor box24. Therefore, the controller 22 and/or the monitor box 24 may owned oroperated by the integrator 20 such that the integrator 20 may bothmonitor and control, as selected by the integrator 20, the farm house12.

Returning to FIG. 1, the farmer control and data system 16 controls andmonitors primarily the feeding and watering, as well as the internalenvironment of the farm house 12. This control system 16 is generallyperformed on the farm 14 by way of a computer 46 that is incommunication with the controller 22 or monitor box 24 in the farm house12. The computer 46 communicates with the controller 22 or monitor 24,via a communications interface 48. The computer 26 may be integratedinto the controller 22 or the monitor box 24 or may be positionedremotely from the farm house 12. The communications interface 48 canconsist of any type of interface capable of transferring control anddata signals between the farm house 12 and the computer 46.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, various hardware communicationconnections are illustrated. As shown in FIG. 3A, the communicationsinterface 48 includes an interface box 50 that is hard wired between thecontroller 22 and the computer 46 by twisted pair wire, Universal SerialBus (USB) connections, RS 232 connections, or any other type ofconnection. The interface box 50 may include only a single connection tothe computer 46, that may be positioned on the farm 14, or even withinthe farm house 12, and may also include a connection to the integrator20 as discussed herein. As shown in FIG. 3B, communications interface 48includes the interface box 50, as well as external modem 52 and aninternal modem 54 within the computer 46. This type of communicationinterface 48 enables remote access by the farmer and control of thecontroller 22, via a communications channel that may be wireless,internet connection, and/or over a phone line 56. This enables thefarmer or grower to remotely access and adjust the controller 22 eitheron the farm 14 or at a site remote therefrom. A third type ofcommunication interface 48, is shown in FIG. 3C, consists of aconnection to various networked computers. In this regard, thecommunication interface 48 includes the interface box 50 that is hardwired directly to a network computer 58 that forms part of a network.The computer 58 communicates to the computer 46 by way of an internalmodem 60, over a selected connection such as a wireless channel,internet connection, and/or a phone line 62 and internal modem 64,associated with the computer 46. While these different embodiments of acommunication interface 48 have been illustrated, it will be understoodthat these embodiments are merely exemplary and any other type oftwo-way unsecured or secured communication channels may be employed. Forexample, wireless, satellite, optical, or any appropriate communicationsmay also be used for the communications interface 48.

The computer 46 may operate with various software platforms to controland receive data from the controller 22 or the monitor box 24. Anexemplary software package is C-Central software provided by CTB, Inc.of Milford, Ind., which may be used in combination with theChore-Tronics Controller X, that may be used as the controller 22, alsoprovided by CTB, Inc. The control and data information passed throughthe communications interface 48 is generally unsecured and unencrypted.This unsecure two-way communication enables the grower or farmer toeasily access the controller 22, both on the farm 14 or at a site remotefrom the farm 14 through the appropriate communication interface 48.Nevertheless, a secure and/or encrypted connection may be used. Thefarmer or grower may typically monitor and control feeding and wateringof the livestock. The farmer may also monitor and control theenvironment in the farm house 12, which includes temperature, humidity,ventilation and lighting control of the farm house 12, utilizing thevarious systems shown in FIG. 2. The farmer control and data system 16also enables the farmer to store data over time, such as temperature, aswell as provide warnings if one of the controlled parameters is out ofits operating range or tolerance, such as high or low temperatures. Thisenables the complete environmental control of the farm houses 12 by thegrower or farmer, via the farmer control and data system 16.

The integrator control and data system 18 owned and/or operated by theintegrator 20 at a selected location communicates with the controller 22and/or monitor box 24, if selected, in the farm house 12, via a two-waysecure or unsecured communications link 66. Here again, thiscommunications link or channel 66 may be of any type, including a hardwire, satellite, optical, and/or wireless communication connection orchannel. The integrator control and data system 18 may include any typeof software capable of communicating with the controller 22 and/or themonitor box 24 for monitoring parameters within the farm house 12, aswell as capable of scheduling feed deliveries, harvest schedules,servicemen reports, etc. An exemplary integrator control and data system18 is the C-Collect system developed by CTB, Inc. of Milford, Ind.,according to the teachings of the present invention.

The integrator control and data system 18 in the system 10 may beprimarily used for monitoring and controlling result parameters in thefarm house 12, while the farmer control and data system 16 may beprimarily directed to monitoring and controlling control parameters inthe farm house 12. As discussed above control parameters generallyrelate to those parameters of the farm house 12, such as feed rate,environment, and the like. Result parameters generally relate to theparameters of the livestock produced in the farm house 12. Therefore,result parameters may include livestock weight, livestock size,livestock health, rate of achievement of standard result parameters, andthe like.

In this regard, the integrator 20, in contrast to the grower or farmeris typically responsible for everything in the farm process, except forthe daily tasks regarding the farm house controls. As indicated above,and further discussed herein, the integrator 20, including theintegrator control and data system 18, may communicate with the monitorin a box 24 and/or the controller 22 over the communication link 66 tothe communication interface 48. Therefore, the integrator 20 may monitorthe conditions of the farm house 12 through either the controller 22 orthe monitor box 24. As discussed herein, the integrator 20 may use thedata collected from the monitor box 24 or the controller 22 for anyappropriate purpose. In addition, the integrator 20 may also control thefarm house 12 with the controller 22 through the communication interface48. Therefore, the integrator 20, as discussed further herein, may onlymonitor the farm house 12, in a generally real time manner, or may alsocontrol and monitor the farm house 12, also in a substantially real timemanner. Therefore, the integrator 20 may not only monitor resultparameters, but may also monitor control parameters and perform actionsor send instructions based upon the monitored control parameter. Theinstructions, by way of example, may be to the farmer, one of thecontrol systems, a service man, or a customer.

In a specific example, and not intended to be limiting, a poultryintegrator may generally be responsible for providing the chicks to thefarmer, maintaining feed bin inventories, coordinating feed delivery,providing technical assistance when necessary, and coordinating theharvest of mature chickens to be delivered to customers, such asprocessing plants and retailers. The data sent by the controller 22and/or monitor box 24 to the integrator control and data system 18 maybe either initially encrypted or non-encrypted at the controller 22and/or the monitor box 24 before being transferred through thecommunications interface 48 on the two-way communications link 66. Thisdata is then received at a batch program 68, which decrypts the data, ifencrypted, for use by the integrator 20. This information may then bemade available on the integrator's network 70 or provided on theinternet 72 to selected users. This data can also be used to generatedata printouts 74, as well as be used for scheduling 76 with otheroperations, such as the processing plant, feed mills, hatcheries, etc.,further discussed herein.

As mentioned above, the integrator control and data system 18 may beprimarily concerned with result parameters or result monitoring of rawdata provided to it over the communications link 66. It should also beunderstood, however, that the integrator control and data system 18 mayalso control the farm house parameters and environment, via thecontroller 22 similar to the way the farmer or grower on the farm 14 maycontrol the farm house, via computer 46. The parameters may be monitoredfor any appropriate reason and the following are merely exemplary andnot limiting or inclusive.

The integrator 20, as discussed above, has the integrator link 66through the communication interface 48 with either/or the monitor box 24and the controller 22. The communication link 66 may be any appropriatecommunication link. The communication link 66 may be a land line link,such as a phone line, cable network or cable modem line, internetconnection, or may also be a wireless connection such as a cellularconnection, a satellite connection, or any other appropriate connection.Nevertheless, the integrator 20 is able to communicate through thecommunication interface 48 with the farm house 12. The integrator 20 mayalso be able to communicate with the grower computer 46 through the datalink 66. Therefore, the integrator 20, as discussed above, may controlthe controller 22 either directly through the communication interface 48or through the grower computer 46, depending upon the selected set-up.Nevertheless, the integrator 20 is not simply limited to receivinginformation from the controller 22 or the monitor box 24, depending uponwhether both are present, but may also control the controller 22 throughthe communication interface 48.

As discussed above, one result parameter includes the weight of thelivestock, such as the bird weight. This weight is used to determine andcoordinate the proper harvest schedule. Feed consumption or flow rateresults are monitored in order to determine feed delivery schedules tothe farm 14. Mortality rates of the livestock are monitored to ensurethat the proper environment is being maintained in the farm house 12.Air quality readings, such as carbon dioxide and monoxide and ammoniareadings, may also be monitored by the integrator 20 to ensure that anylocal, state or federal regulations are met regarding air quality andhealth of the animals in the farm house 12. Animal welfare conditionsmay also be monitored by the integrator 20 by way of monitoringdifferent environmental parameters, feed and water delivery parametersor any other relevant parameters, to confirm that the livestock arewithin and that the growers are complying with appropriate animalwelfare conditions. The temperature, humidity, ventilation and lightingare also monitored by the integrator 20 and compared to selectedstandards or optimal parameters to confirm that these parameters arebeing met within each farm house 12 on each farm 14 monitored by theintegrator 20.

In this regard, a typical integrator 20 may have contracts with severalfarms 14 where each farm includes several farm houses 12. This mayinclude up to about 150-200 farms 14 and over 500 farm houses 12. Theintegrator control and data system 18 within the system 10 enables theintegrator 20 to monitor each of the farms 14 it contracts with and/orowns, as well as each of the farm houses 12, located on each of thefarms 14. This enables the integrator 20 to further compare operations,such as control parameters, of farm houses 12 to determine which of thefarm houses 12 operate more efficiently or yield the best and highestquality product, generally determined with the result parameters. Thecontrol parameters of these particular farm houses 12 can then becompared with farm houses 12 that are not operating as efficiently orproviding as high a yield, again generally determined with the resultparameters. This enables the integrator 20 to improve the other farmhouses 12, thereby resulting in a more uniform quality and yield withineach farm 14. This information may also be shared across farm houses 12and across entire farms 14. It is up to the integrator 20, however, todetermine who and what data may be shared or viewed by others.

Nevertheless, according to various schemes, as discussed herein, theintegrator 20 may standardize or determine optimal control parameters orvarious farms to achieve the best results as measured by the resultparameters. As a simple example the integrator may compare a feed rateof a first farm house and a second farm house and then compare the ratewhich the livestock reach a selected livestock weight. If one farm houseachieves the selected result parameter faster the integrator 20 is ableto determine a better control parameter to achieve the selected resultparameter. It will be understood, however, that many control parametersand many farm houses may be monitored and compared to determine the bestcontrol parameter. Also, many other result parameters may be consideredwhen determine the optimal control parameters.

Referring to FIG. 4, exemplary details regarding what the integrator 20can do with the raw data collected from each farm 14 in the system 10 isillustrated. Again, the data on the communication link 66 may be eithersecure encrypted data or non-secure that is delivered to the integrator20 and processed by the batch program 68. This data is generally onlyprovided to the integrator 20 and not accessible by the farmer on thefarm 14. Again, the integrator 20, however, determines what informationand data to make available to others and who may receive the selecteddata.

The integrator 20 may monitor the live production 78 within each farmhouse 12 by way of graphs 80, charts 82, and tables 84 to support flockanalysis, exception reporting and grower/servicemen training 86. Thislive production monitoring 78 includes monitoring the environment withinthe farm house 12 to ensure that the environment is within a list ofstandards. As discussed in further detail herein, the data collectionand communication from the controller 22 and/or the monitor box 24 maybe substantially real time. Therefore, the integrator 20 may receive thedata through the link 66 substantially as rapidly as the integrator 20desires. Therefore, the integrator 20 may desire to receive a datauplink or data set at a selected rate, such as once a day or more orless often, as selected, such that the integrator 20 may perform realtime analysis and scheduling based on the data received. Therefore, theintegrator 20 may select to have data sent over the link 66 at aselected rate so that a selected action may occur at a selected rate,such as rate of delivery, animal pickup, and other appropriate actions.Therefore, the integrator 20 can perform autonomously or assist thefarmer on the farm 14, or request the farmer perform certain actionsaccording to the data collected.

For example, temperature data will be transmitted, via the secure orunsecure link 66 at a selected sample rate and compared to a required orselected temperature. Should the temperature ever fall outside therequired and selected temperature window, flags can be set andidentified within the graphs 80, charts 78, or tables 84. This leads toprinting of exception reports 86 identifying that certain parameters areoutside the required standards. Likewise, feed consumption, waterconsumption, humidity levels and lighting can also be monitored similarto the temperature to confirm compliance with desired standards thathave various adjustable tolerances. This information is used in theflock analysis, exception reporting, as well as for providinginformation to the grower/serviceman 86. The information may be providedfor growers/servicemen training but the information may be provided tothe growers/servicemen for providing real time solutions to the flags orexception reporting. Therefore, an exception or an indication that oneof the parameters is not being met may create a flag or exception reportthat must be attended to by a selected serviceman or grower. Therefore,the integrator may collect the data through the communication link 66and the integrator control and data system 18 may provide the exceptionreport such that the grower/serviceman may perform the appropriate taskto solve the issue.

In this regard, the integrator 20 may provide certain information to thegrower or farmer in order for the farmer to improve its quality oryields. For example, the integrator 20 may monitor numerous farms 14each containing several farm houses 12. By identifying which farms 14 orfarm houses 12 are operating efficiently and providing the highestyields, the control parameters from these farm houses 12 can be providedto the other growers or servicemen monitoring the other farms 14 toprovide a more uniform harvest throughout the integrator's system 10.

The integrator 20 can also automate its entire operation based upon thedata gathered by the integrator control and data system 18 within thesystem 10. For example, the integrator 20 can coordinate with itsprocessing plants 88 by monitoring bird weights 90 in order to generateharvest schedules 92. For example, should the integrator 20 have aclient that requires birds having a particular weight in a selectedperiod, such as after three weeks, the integrator 20 can analyze thebird weights from the various farms 14 and even in each farm house 12 toselect which farm houses 12 that may be ready for harvesting in threeweeks with the proper bird weights. This provides an accurate harvestschedule 92 for the integrator 20 that can be used by the processingplant 88. This may allow the processing plant 88 to schedule a pick-upof the proper number of birds at the proper farm 14 in the proper farmhouse 12 on the required day in order to meet the three week delivery tothe desired or selected customer. This information can also be providedto each processing plant 88 that the integrator 20 contracts with orowns, via the internet connection 72. Again, any connection type may beused and the connection may be secure or not.

The integrator 20 can also inform the feed mill 94 when feed deliveries96 are required, based upon monitoring of feed bin inventories 98. Inthis regard, the integrator 20 may have contracts with several farms 14and may thus, be responsible for feed delivery 96 from several feedmills 94 in order to ensure that the bin inventories 98 at each farm 14are met. By monitoring the feed consumption substantially in real timeor continuously of each farm house 12 on each farm 14, as well as thebin inventories 98, the integrator 20 can easily schedule feeddeliveries 96, also substantially in real time, at appropriate timesdirectly with the feed mills 94. Again, these feed deliveries 96 can bescheduled, via internet access 72, or any appropriate communication,provided to the feed mills 94 by the integrator 20. Again, as discussedabove, the integrator 20 may communicate the feed mills 94 withoutcommunication with the farmer on the farm 14. The integrator 20 thatreceives the data over the communication link 66 provided the controller22 and/or the monitor box 24 sends the information over the selectedconnection, such as the internet 72, to the selected number of theseveral feed mills 94 to ensure that feed is sent to the appropriatefarm house 12 at a selected time.

The integrator 20 may also integrate its account payable system 100 intothe integrator control and data system 18 to provide for grower paymentsor settlements 102, based upon generating reports 104 from data gatheredfrom each farm house 12. These reports 104 can include when thelivestock has been harvested and whether or not the livestock has metthe required weight. Quality of the livestock can also be monitored. Allof these factors effect the growers settlement 102.

The integrator 20 may also provide data and reports through the internet72, via the integrator's web page 106. The web page 106 can be passwordprotected and accessible by the growers 108, as well as flock servicemen110 or by the integrator's management 112 when they are away from theintegrator's office 20. For example, the grower 108 for a specific farmcan access the web page 106 to review reports generated by theintegrator 20 to help assist the grower in running and managing the farmhouse 12. This information can include how to refine the adjustment tothe internal environment in the farm house 12 to provide higher yieldsand higher quality products. The flock servicemen 110 that work for theintegrator 20 may also access the web page 106 to schedule their visitsto the various farms 14, as well as generate and receive exceptionreports or other data that can assist in the flock servicemen'sinspection of the particular farm 14. For example, should a particularfarm 14 have a parameter falling outside a standard, such astemperature, the servicemen 110 can check the corresponding systemswithin that particular farm house 12 on that particular farm 14, basedupon the reports and information provided by the web page 106.Management 112 of the integrator 20 can also access the web page 106remotely if management 112 is not in the office 20.

Turning to FIG. 5, a method for utilizing the integrator control anddata system 18 within the system 10 is illustrated. The method begins atblock 114, where the integrator control and data system 18 is installed.Once the system has been installed, the method proceeds to the systemstart-up block 116, which starts the operation of the integrator controland data system 18. Once this system has been started, the user isprompted whether or not it would like to change the password at decisionblock 118. Should a user decide to change the password 118, the methodproceeds to block 120 where a new password is selected. If the user doesnot change the password, the method proceeds to decision block 122,which prompts whether or not the user wishes to create a site. This sitecorresponds to adding an additional farm 14 to be monitored by theintegrator 20. If the answer to the decision block 122 is yes, themethod proceeds to block 124, where the site ID is entered. The site IDmay consist of a unique ID to identify the particular farm 14 that caninclude any appropriate information, such as the name and telephonenumber of the farm site. Once the unique ID is entered at block 124, themethod proceeds to block 126.

At block 126, site settings are entered. These site settings identifywhat parameters are to be monitored and the time intervals in which tosample the monitored parameters. Folders are also created for storingdata for each particular site. The settings can also identify at whatparticular dates and times the monitored parameters should be sampled.The settings can also include when this information should be downloadedby the integrator control and data system 18. Once the parameters to bemonitored are identified and the sample time or rate set, the methodproceeds to decision block 128. At decision block 128, the user isprompted whether or not to add an additional site. If so, the processproceeds back to block 124, via 130. Should all of the sites be entered,the method proceeds to block 132. At block 132, the method proceeds tocollect the data from the various farms 14. For example, data regardingfeed flow, temperature, or animal weight may be collected.

The data is collected sequentially by gathering data from each site oneafter the other at the specified collection dates and times and at thespecified sample rates. The collected data is time stamped and markedaccordingly for use later. The header section of the data may alsocontain identification information about the particular farm 14 or siteID. Once the data is collected, the method proceeds to block 134 wherethe raw data is stored. The system 18 may utilize a single common folderto receive incoming files. The file naming convention can be random,sequential, based upon farm number, house number and date and time. Oncethe raw data is properly stored at block 134, the method proceeds toeither providing various reports 136, various alerts 138 or various webpage access updates 140. As discussed herein, the reports 136 and thealerts 138 may be provided or sent using any appropriate method. Boththe reports 136 and the alerts 138, however, may also be provided on theweb page 140, such as an integrator web page 106, for access by selectedindividuals such as the grower 108, the servicemen 110, or variousmanagement or workers 112.

The reporting capabilities block 136 may include raw data, derivativedata, comparison to standards, and statistical analysis that may bepresented both in column and graphical views. Moreover, any other typeof reports may also be generated with the understanding that theenclosed reports are merely exemplary. Each column can include variousparameters of data sampled over time such as temperature and humidity,while other columns can include averages or other mathematicalderivations of the other columns. Raw data column definitions define thedata in each raw data column that may be received from the controller 22and stored in the system database. Derivative columns are defined as thecalculation results of mathematical operations performed on raw datacolumns and/or other derivative columns. Derivative columns may belimited to functions that can be expressed as row operations on a singlerow of data containing the derivative value. Derivative data columndefinitions define a “formula” or “calculation” performed to derive thederivative column from the raw data. Derived column set-ups may consistof column name, moving average, N-points or N-minutes, N (as a longinteger), and formula. Users may be able to select from predefinedformulas or create user defined formulas. Standards for all raw andderivative columns may be assigned within an “assigned standards” dialogbox. A spreadsheet like grid will display all column names, and basedupon age, data will be entered directly into the grid which will then bestored in the database. Administrators will assign user IDs, passwordsand permissions for all users of the program and web interface. All userinformation is stored securely within the system database. Only userswith administrative rights may access the application setups andconfiguration capabilities. Reports and charts may have the option ofdisplaying raw data columns, derivative data columns, moving averagesfor any raw or derivative column, regression lines, correlationanalysis, column totals and averages, column coefficient of variance,column standard deviation, and groupings and subtitles by any variable(raw or derivative).

In the alerts block 138, all defined alerts may be displayed in aspreadsheet like grid showing which farms 14 have data outside thenormal range as defined by the standard minimum and maximum values for aselected time period. The time period display may be concurrent with thedata collection interval specified in the site setting block 126. Basedupon predefined standards, each defined raw and derivative data columnmay have a “yellow” and “red” minimum and maximum value that can beassigned and stored in the database. Monitoring of collected data forvalues outside of specified ranges may be executed and in the event thatunaccepted values are encountered, a flag in any appropriate form, suchas in the form of a sound or a message can occur.

In the web page block 140, the web page extension may provide access tolimited reporting functions through the Internet or a company Intranetfor contract producers (growers) and technical advisers (serviceman).The web page extension 140 may also provide the ability to select, viewand print predefined reports. The web interface 140 may also allowserviceman or others to insert comments into the data which can bereviewed by the integrator 20.

The use of the system 10 thereby enables the integrator 20 tosubstantially and completely automate its entire operations withcontract farms 14 or farms 14 that it owns. This enables the integrator20 to monitor and control operations on the farm house 12 directly.Alternatively, the integrator 20 may have the farmer control theoperations within the farm house 12, either alone and/or according toinstructions from the integrator 20, as the integrator monitors the farmhouse 12. The system 10 also enables the integrator 20 to coordinateother necessary operations. These operations include coordinating withprocessing plants, feed mills, hatcheries, payments, servicemen, andothers. The system 10, therefore, provides the capabilities to theintegrator 20 to monitor and control all operations in the farm house12, provide for more uniform and higher quality products and yield,resulting in meeting the integrator customer's desires more effectively.

As discussed above, the monitor box 24 is optionally used or operated inconjunction with the controller 22. Nevertheless, either the monitor box24 or the controller box 22 may be provided in the farm house 12substantially independently of the other. It may be selected to providethe monitor box 24 substantially independently of the controller box 22if the controller 22 is not present, or if the farm house 12 does notrequire the controller 22. In addition, the monitor box 24 may besubstantially interconnected or used in conjunction with any appropriatecontroller 22 and the two need not be a substantially integral system.That is, the monitor box 24 may monitor a selected portion of the farmhouse 12 and provide the information to a user, such as through anetwork as described above, through a manual reading or through a shortrange transmission. Regardless, the monitor box 24 may interconnect witha plurality of sensors to store, transmit, monitor or perform otherappropriate actions in the farm house 12.

With reference to FIG. 6, the monitor box 24 may include a plurality ofportions illustrated diagrammatically in the monitor box 24 and may bepositioned in any location, such as the farm house 12. It will beunderstood that the diagram of FIG. 6 is merely exemplary. Moreover, theportions included in the diagram of the monitor box 24 are neitherinclusive nor exclusionary. The monitor box 24 may include anyappropriate portions to receive a signal from a sensor and perform afunction on the signal, such as transmitting, storing, or analyzing thesignal.

The monitor box 24 may include an analog to digital converter (A/D) 150.The A/D converter 150 may also provide an input/output (I/O) for themonitor box 24. Therefore, the A/D converter may be interconnected witha bus or communications line 151 that may be connected to the controller22 or to the integrator 20 or to the farmer control data system 16.Therefore, various instructions or data may be provided to the A/Dconverter 150 and to the monitor box 24 or information or a data set maybe sent over the bus line 151 to the users. It will be understood thatvarious transmission portions such as an optional radial frequencytransmitter (RF), various other wireless communication technologies suchas infrared (IR) may be used.

Further interconnected with the A/D converter 150 may be a plurality ofsensors 152 as discussed above and herein. The sensors 152 may beinterconnected with the A/D converter 150 to receive an analog signalwhich relates to a state of the sensor 152. The A/D converter 150 maythen convert the analog signal into a digital signal that may betransmitted to a processor 153. Therefore, the state of the sensor 152may produce a signal that can be transmitted to the A/D converter 150which may then produce a digital signal to send to the processor 153. Itwill be understood, by one skilled in the art, that the processor 153may also be produced or designed to include, internally, one or more ofthe A/D converters 150 rather than having a separate discrete component.

The processor 153 may be programmed with a selected set of instructionsfor determining a process that may based on the information sent fromthe sensors 152. The information may be sent over the bus line 151 ormay be stored in a memory module 154. The memory module 154 may be anyappropriate memory module such as a substantially solid state memorysuch as a flash memory, a random access memory, or the like.Alternatively, the memory module 154 may be a hard disk memory portionor any appropriate memory portion. Therefore, the information from thesensors 152 may be processed by the processor 153 and saved in memory154. The processor 153 may perform a selected set of instructions on theinformation from the sensors 152, as discussed herein.

It will be understood that the processor 153 may be directly connectedto the bus line 151. Therefore, the signal form the processor 153 may besent as a digital signal directly to the bus line 151. Moreover, thecommunication may be first transmitted through an I/O portioninterconnected with the bus line 151 to increase the signal to noiseratio or for any other purpose. Therefore, the bus line 151 may beconnection through the A/D-I/O converter 150 or directly to theprocessor 153. Moreover, as mentioned above, each of the portions,including the A/D converter 150, the memory 154, and any appropriate I/Oports may be included in the processor 153. Therefore, rather thanhaving discrete portions, the processor may be designed to perform eachof the functions appropriate to the monitor box 24.

Further, a power supply 155 may be provide power to the processor 153and to the memory 154. Furthermore, the power supply 155 may providepower for any selected function or portion of the monitor box 24.Therefore, the power supply 155 may be substantially internal orexternal to the monitor box 24.

With reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the monitor box 24 may be provided inany appropriate manner. The monitor box 24 may be any appropriateformation and may include an assembly or system of portions. Therefore,the monitor box 24 need not simply be a box, but may a plurality ofportions that perform the monitoring and associated functions.

According to various embodiments, the monitor box 24 may besubstantially controllable through a minimal number of operations forvarious reasons. For example, the monitor box 24 may be substantiallyprovided to transmit the monitored information or data and not be readat the monitor box 24. Nevertheless, the monitor box 24 may provide aviewing screen 200 for viewing of information relative to the monitorbox 24. In addition, the viewing screen 200 may be used to program orcalibrate the monitor box 24. In addition, the monitor box 24 mayinclude a control panel 202 that includes a plurality of switches suchas multi-directional switch portion 204 and entry switches 206. Themonitor box 24 may be provided with a substantially touch sensitivescreen such that the viewing screen 200 need not be providedsubstantially separately from the control panel 202. Either the touchscreen may allow for entry of data into the monitor box 24 and retrievalof data from the monitor box 24.

With reference to FIG. 7B, the monitor box 24 may enclose a plurality ofselected boards, For example, the monitor box 24 may include a firstinput/output (I/O) board 208, a second I/O board 210 and an InputDigital Module (IDM) board 212. It will be understood by one skilled inthe art that any appropriate processors or printed circuit boards may beprovided to carry out the functions of the monitor box 24. The variousboards 208, 210, 212 may allow for an input of a signal or data into themonitor box 24 that may be monitored by the monitor box 24 and sent to aselected user. It will be understood, however, that the monitor box 24may include any number of selected boards for receiving data fromvarious sensors and members in the farm house 12 and the included boardsare merely exemplary. In addition, the monitor box may include internalor enclosed monitor portions such as a static pressure sensor 214. Itwill be understood that the static pressure sensor 214 is notnecessarily included in the monitor box 214, but may be provided formonitoring a selected pressure within the farm house 12 or within themonitor box 24.

The input/output boards 208, 210 may be substantially similar to the A/Dconverter 150 as illustrated in the diagram above. The A/D converter 150may communicate with a selected system or individual, such as theintegrator 20 or the farmer system 16. In addition, the data may beencrypted both before leaving the monitor box 24 or as it is beingreceived from the various sensors. Moreover, both an analog or digitalsignal may be received or produced by the monitor box 24.

In addition, the monitor box 24 may include the processor 153. Theprocessor may receive the data and transform the data prior to storingand/or transmitting the data. In addition, the monitor box 24 mayreceive a signal, such as an analog signal, that must first be processedand converted to a digital signal prior to sending or storing the signalas data. Therefore, it will be understood that the monitor box may bothreceive analog and digital signals that may be processed within themonitor box 24.

It will be understood that various sensors may be interconnected withthe monitor box 24 using any appropriate mechanism. Although anyappropriate mechanism may be used with reference to FIG. 8, an exemplarymechanism may include a terminal connector 218. The connector 218 mayinterconnect with a receptacle 220 on the first I/O board 208.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various portions of thesensors, including a signal line 222 need not be interconnected with theI/O board 208 with the connector 218, but may be connected in anyappropriate manner. Simply, the connector 218 may allow for an ease ofinterconnection and simplifying connecting the monitor box 24 withvarious sensors in the farm house 12.

Therefore, it will be understood that any appropriate number of sensorsmay be interconnected with the monitor box 24. For example, wind speedsensors, feed scale sensors, water scale sensors, and other appropriatesensors may be provided in the farm house 12 and interconnected with themonitor box 24. As discussed herein, and above, the monitor box 24 mayreceive data or signals from the various sensors and provide the data toselected users such as over a network, which may be substantially wired,wireless or other appropriate mechanisms, such that the monitor box 24may provide data to a user. Regardless, the monitor box 24 may beinterconnected with a plurality of each type of sensor and need notsimply interconnect with a single selected sensor. Therefore, anyappropriate number of connections may be provided on the various boardsand any appropriate number of boards may be provided in the monitor box24.

With reference to FIG. 9, the monitor box 24 may be used according tovarious processes, such as those described in method 240. The method orsystem 240 allows for use of the monitor box 24 substantiallyindependently of the controller 22. Nevertheless the monitor box 24 maybe used to monitor a selected number of sensors such as those includedin the farm house 12 and provide the data to a selected user for variousreasons. For example the monitor box 24 may be used with the controller22 to monitor conditions within the farm house 12 to allow thecontroller 22 to control various portions of the farm house 12 toachieve or maintain various conditions. Alternatively, the monitor box24 may be used without the controller 22, or in addition thereto, tomonitor conditions within the farm house 12 for a user. The userreceiving the data form the monitor box 24 may or may not be the owneror maintainer of the farm house 12.

The system 240 generally starts with installing the monitor box in box242. After installing the monitor box in block 242, the sensors may beattached in block 244. The sensors may include any appropriate sensor,such as those described above or any appropriate sensor, such asincluding a temperature sensor, a static pressure sensor, a feedconsumption sensor, a water usage sensor, a heater run time sensor, awind speed sensor, a humidity sensor, or other appropriate sensors.Nevertheless, the sensors may be attached to the portions of the I/Obox, such as the boards 208, 210, 212. In addition, the sensors may beattached to any appropriate portion of the monitor box 24 such that themonitor box 24 is operable to monitor or receive data. In addition, anyappropriate number of any individual sensors may be provided. Forexample, a plurality of temperature sensors may be provided to sense thetemperatures in various portions of the farm house 12.

After the sensors are attached in block 244, the monitor box 24 may bepowered in block 246. Powering the monitor box 24 may be provided by thepower source 155, such as in box 246, and may allow for activating themonitor box 24 and all for initialing programming and calibration of themonitor box 24. Therefore, the monitor box 24 may be established withparticular data fields in block 248. The data fields established inblock 248 may be any appropriate data fields. For example, the datafields may include substantially user defined data fields or pre-defineddata fields. Therefore, the data fields may generally relate to the typeof sensors attached in block 244. The user may establish a plurality offields, including fields for a temperature, static pressure or any otherappropriate sensor that was attached to the monitor box 24 in block 244.

In addition, the user may establish a number of sub-fields for each ofthe type of sensors. For example, a plurality of temperature sensors maybe provided in a plurality of positions within the farm house 12 and theuser may define each of the positions of the plurality of thetemperature sensors or the number of the temperature sensors. Inaddition, it will be understood that the fields established in block 248may be those that are substantially factory or preinstalled. Therefore,the monitor box 24, including the various boards 208, 210, 212, mayinclude a plurality of predefined fields for which the plurality ofsensors provide signals or data.

After establishing the fields in block 248, or any appropriate time, thesensors may be calibrated in block 250. It will be understood thatcalibrating the sensors in block 250 is merely optional and need notoccur. For example, the sensors may be substantially self calibrating,thus not requiring calibrating of the sensors at the monitor box 24.Regardless, each of the plurality of sensors may be substantiallycalibrated prior to receiving a data in block 252. For example, a knowntemperature may be measured relative to one or more of the temperaturesensors and the measured temperature used to calibrate the temperaturesensor at the monitor box 24. Therefore, calibration of the sensors inblock 250 may provide substantially known data within a selectedconfidence interval for use by a user.

After the fields are established in block 248 and the sensors areattached in block 244, data may be received by the monitor box 24 inblock 252. The data received into the monitor box 24 may include anyappropriate data that may be received into the monitor box 24. The datareceived to the monitor box 24 in block 252 may include data that isreceived from the sensors, such as the temperature sensor, the windspeed sensor or any other appropriate sensor. In addition, data receivedinto the monitor box 24 may be data that is substantially user input atmonitor box 24. For example, a user may input a mortality number, orother selected data for a selected period of time, the population for aselected period of time, or other appropriate non-sensed data. The usermay use the input panel 202 to input the selected data into the monitorbox 24 to be stored or transmitted with the monitor box 24. Therefore,it will be understood that the monitor box 24 may monitor datasubstantially autonomously and may also include data that is input by auser into the monitor box 24.

Generally, once the data is received into the monitor box 24, the datamay be kept substantially secured or not secured. For example, the datamay be substantially encrypted once it is received into the monitor box24 to ensure that the data within the monitor box 24 is substantiallynot susceptible to tampering. Nevertheless, the data need not besubstantially secured within the monitor box 24 and may be easily editedor changed by a user at the monitor box 24. Regardless, the data withinthe monitor box 24 or provided to the monitor box 24, may be providedfrom the plurality of sensors, a user or other appropriate input.

The data input into the monitor box 24 is substantially stored in block254 for at least a period of time. The monitor box 24 may include astorage system, such as flash memory system, a random access memory, ahardware memory system (such as a hard drive) or any appropriate storagemechanism. The monitor box 24 need not include a storage mechanism suchthat the monitor box 24 itself does not store the data as in block 254.Therefore, storing the data in block 254 is merely optional and need notoccur.

The data is downloaded in block 256 to a selected user interface inblock 258. Therefore, the data that is input into the block 252 may bedownloaded immediately in block 256 or be stored for a selected periodof time in block 254. Regardless, storing the data in block 254 will beunderstood to be substantially optional and not required. Rather, thedata is generally received into the monitor blocks 24 in block 252 andmay be downloaded in block 256 to a selected user interface in block258.

Generally, the monitor box 24 is operable to include a processor that isable to transfer or encode the data inputted into the monitor box 24 atblock 252 into a particular user interface language for downloading atblock 256. For example, the monitor box 24 may include or be attached toa modem in block 260 for substantially encoding the data received intothe input in block 252. The encoding of the data may occur within themonitor box 24 before the data is downloaded in block 256 or in the userinterface box transmission in block 258. Regardless, the data inputreceived into the monitor box 24 may be substantially provided in theuser readable form.

The data may then be transmitted or modulated for transmission, such aswith a modem in block 216. The modem in block 260 may provide the datato a user in block 262. The user in block 262 may be any appropriateportion, such as a user's server, a user's computer, a user's network,such as those described above, or any appropriate mechanism. Inaddition, the user may include a substantially handheld mechanism thatallows for substantially short distance transmissions from the monitorbox 24 to a handheld portion. The handheld portion may be substantiallywireless or be interconnected with a wire connection to the monitor box24.

It will be understood, however, that the data received in block 252 maybe provided to a user in block 262 in any appropriate manner. Inaddition, the data may be substantially secured, as discussed above,once received in block 252 to when it is received by the user in block262. In addition, the transmission of data may be wireless, satellite,wired or any appropriate transmission such as discussed above. Also, theuser may access the data in any appropriate manner.

For example, and as discussed above, the data may be provided in anyappropriate manner, such as providing the reports 136, the alerts 138 orto the web page 140. It will be understood that the monitor box 24 mayprovide the reports 136, the alerts 138, or information to the web page140 substantially independently of the controller 22. Therefore, themonitor box 24 may be provided within the farm house 12 without thecontroller 22 for monitoring various portions of the farm house 12, suchas through the sensors or with a user input for use by a user.

The monitor box 24 may be provided in the farm house 12 substantiallyindependently of the controller 22 or within the appropriate controller22. The monitor box 24, even if provided with the controller 22, mayoperate substantially independently of the controller 22 for receivingdata or signals for a selected user of the monitor box 24 such that thefarm house 12 may be monitored by the user in block 262 even if the userdoes not have access to the controller 22 or if there is no controllerin the farm house 12.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. An apparatus for monitoring a sensor in a farm house, comprising: anuser input mechanism operable to allow a first user to input aninstruction; a data input mechanism operable to receive a signal from asource positioned in a farm house; a processor operable to process atleast one of the instruction or the signal; and a transmission portionoperable to transmit a data to a second user.